Chapters 21-25 Summary

Luke drills Mara in lightsaber combat as Artoo squeals they have found signs that someone is helping them by clearing a path. At nightfall, Luke and Mara sense two groups nearby and Han, Luke, and Chewie investigate. They find Ekhrikhor clan Bakh'tor, a Noghri, who says the Myneyrshi and Psadans want to talk and who gives Luke a stuffed clawbird as a sign of truce. Ekhrikhor assures the Myneyrsh that these people will free them from Imperial domination. The Psadan chief recalls at length the oppression of his people. Threepio translates as best he can. Chewie's presence, armed, shows that Wookiees are not slaves. They grant safe passage to the forbidden mountain. Meanwhile, nearing Wayland, C'baoth and Covell chat about power being the commanding of others' souls. C'baoth looks forward to having company and, reaching out in the Force, sees Luke...